BASKETBALL Equipment and Rules of the Game (Part1)

Equipment

(1) Court

The court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide for collegiate and professional basketball: the high school length is reduced by 10 feet, making the dimensions 84 feet long by 50 feet wide. The threepoint goal line is drawn as a ‘semicircle 19 feet 9 inches from the basket.

At the collegiate level, the backboard must be a transparent 6- foot horizontal by 4-foot vertical board with a 24-by-18-inch white rectangle centered behind a goal. The backboard is also required to have 2-inch-thick gray padding across the bottom and up the sides for protection to the players. Attached to the backboard is an 18-inch (inside diameter) bright orange ring that is parallel to the floor at a height of 10 feet.

(2) Ball

The ball for men should be 29 to 30 inches in circumference and weigh no more than 20 to 22 ounces. the ball for women is slightly smaller, with a circumference of 28 to 29inches and a weight of 18 to 20 ounces. Both balls are leathercovered and should be of the molded variely.

Rules of the Game

The national associations that govern basketball rules in the United States are constantly changing the rules to make the game more exciting to watch. In the last several years, a number of additions have been made to the game, including a shot clock. a three-point shot line, coaches boxes, and changes in the size of the basketball for women.

Rules are standardized on both the collegiate and high school levels. In a few instances, conferences on the collegiate level and states on the high school level have been allowed to experiment with some rule changes before they are adopted nationwide. Currently, most high schools do not play with a shot clock, and coaches cannot stand during the game in a number of states.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) have rules committees made up of coaches that are responsible for rule changes and modifications at the college level.

Most of the rules are basic to any level of play. The rules explained in this book represent some of the general guidelines for play.

(1) Players, Substitutes, and Jerseys

A basketball team consists of five players plus substitutes. The names of all players who could possibly play must be entered into the scorebook prior to the start of the game. Only the players whose names and jersey numbers appear in the book may play. At least one player is designated as the captain, and this player represents the team and coaches to the game officials.

To enter the game, a substitute must report to the official scorer and announce her or his name and number and the name and number of the player being replaced. Substitutes can enter the game only when the clock stops on a sounded horn, the ball is dead, and the official motions the player to enter the game.

Game jerseys must be alike and have numbers on both the front and the back. The back numbers should be at least 6 inches high: the numbers on the front need to be 4 inches high. Numbers 1 and 2 and any single digit greater than 5 are illegal. Legal numbers start with double-zero, 3.4, and 5 (single digits), and then in fives ( 10-15, 20-25, 30-35, 40-45, 50-55).

Several years ago, a popular practice was to wear a T-shirt under the jersey. It may still be worn but must be of the same color as the game jersey. Also, at no time may a player wear jewelry on the court. Violation of either of these rules results in a technical foul.

(2) Scoring, Timing, and the Shot Clock

There are three ways that points are scored in a basketball game. A field goal is scored when a live ball passes down through the basket. Two points are awarded to the team whose basket the ball passed through. A goal is scored even if a player accidentally scores at the wrong basket: in such a case, points are credited to the opponent. Three points are awarded for shots taken from behind the three-point line.

The official signals the goal with arms straight over the head and three fingers held up. The team making a successful free throw (a shot taken as a result of fouls or rule infractions) is credited with one point.

The length of the game varies at different levels of play:

• Colleges play two 20-minute halves with a 15-minute inter mission between the halves.

High schools play four 8-minute quarters with a 10-minute halftime and 1-minute breaks after the first and third quarters.

• Youth leagues and grade schools play 6- or 7-minute quarters with breaks similar to the high schools.

At the end of regulation time. if the score is tied, a 5-minute overtime will be played. Fouls remain the same, but each team is awarded an extra dine-out in addition to any time-outs left from régulation play. These 5-minute overtimes will be played until a winner is determined.

A period ends when time has expired. However. if a ball is in flight on a field goal attempt or a foul is called as time expires, the field goal will count if it is good and the free throws will be awarded to the player who was fouled.

Each team receives five time-outs per game and one extra time-out for each overtime period. Any other called time-outs past the allotted five will result in a technical foul.

After the initial center jump ball by one player from each team to start the game. the clock runs. The clock is only stopped when a time-out or foul is called. the ball goes out of bounds, or a rule infraction causes the play to be whistled dead.

Several years ago, coaches would sometimes get a lead and then “freeze the ball” or go into a stall until the final buzzer.

Now a shot clock dictates that the offense must get a shot off in 35 seconds in men’s basketball, 30 seconds in women’s basketball, and 24 seconds in professional basketball. The clock is reset when the team in control of the ball attempts a field goal. possession changes, or there is a dead-ball situation.

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